Ghiz: I'm Not Against R.P. McMurphy's

Leslie Ghiz is taking some heat for her vote last week against David Crowley's motion to direct the city administration to stop its legal battle over R.P. McMurphy's liquor license. She and four others - Chris Monzel, Cecil Thomas, Chris Bortz and Jim Tarbell - voted against moving forward with the idea immediately. The motion went instead to the neighborhoods committee for consideration later.

Ghiz says she's not opposed to the Wasson Road bar. She explained she voted against Crowley's motion because she had been told by Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann's office that the motion wouldn't do any good, wouldn't have any impact on the two-year fight over the liquor license. Bar owner George Dyer is appealing to Dann's office over the loss of his license, so the issue is now between the bar owner and the attorney general.

She acknowledged Dyer has made significant changes in his operation that have cut down on trash and other problems neighbors complained about in 2005. She said she hopes he doesn't lose the license.

Monzel was emphatic that he does oppose any plan to stop possible punishment for "crimes" committed by the bar in 2005. Crowley said he was trying to give the bar a reprieve from spending thousands more on legal fees since the operation has improved.